Photo du Jour: A Bejeweled Horse – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Photo du Jour: A Bejeweled Horse – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The magic of Angkor Wat and magnificent Cambodian temples like Ta Prohm and Bayon is all in the details: richly-carved female devata and apsarabas-relief figures, a visiting Buddhist monk clad in a tangerine-colored robe spotted amid the grey structures, a handsome horse wearing a bejeweled bridle in Angkor Wat’s fore. I’ve been fortunate to have explored the awe-inspiring Angkorian temples twice – once in 2009, and again last winter. I captured the image of this horse in 2009, just after watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat, as it has for about one thousand years.

Have you visited Cambodia’s Angkorian temples? What were some of your favorite details?

Such a classic it is! When I was in 2nd grade, my mother handmade me a Dorothy costume. I loved participating in the parade at school with our dog in a basket, wearing the shoes my mom crafted. She took her wedding shoes and adorned them with red sequins (and stuffed the backs so they’d fit me better). She still has them today, reminding us that “there’s no place like home…”

I read that the horses in the film were tinted with colored gelatin to achieve their vibrant glow and that they had to be distracted from feasting upon the gelatin.

Love the story about your Mom making the shoes. I believe the movie is the reason I love red shoes so much. I started out with red Mary Janes when I was about eight years old, and now I have a row of shoes in my closet that are all red. Always a pleasure to hear from Tricia. V.

Hi Tricia, Absolutely awesome photo! You captured it beautifully. Going to Angkor Wat was the main catalyst for our second RTW. We were there last year, and although we went for Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm was our absolute favorite. The roots – those awesome roots flowing over structures blew my mind. All the best, Terri

Terri, must admit that Ta Prohm was our favorite too. We found ourselves being torn that it was being restored so heavily. Of course, we want it to be there for future generations, but there’s something romantic about seeing it in its more natural state.

By any chance, did you make it out to Bantaey Srei? I wish we would’ve headed there after all. Something to explore on a future excursion.